Walking bridge staying put

A hot button issue throughout much of the past year, the Lou Stonehouse walkway, more commonly known as the walking bridge in Wallaceburg, was nearly on the chopping block.

A service review by the municipality listed the walking bridge as one of many that were to be shut down.

The community rallied together when this news spread.

Petitions were created, signatures gathered and people came forward in support of keeping the bridge in the community.

During this years budget deliberations, Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley entered a successful motion to have the structure repaired, with a maximum budget of $500,000 coming from reserves.

Wesley noted in his motion that many people in the community have come forward, which should off-set the cost considerably.

Here are some excerpts from Wesley’s motion:

While it has been referred to as a bridge it is really a walkway over the Sydenham River. The Stonehouse walkway does not allow for any type of vehicular traffic and never will since the walkway is only 6 feet wide and is not built nor certified for the weight of vehicles. However, this walkway is a key part of the Trans Canada Trail and it is the only safe and accessible way across the river for our seniors, disabled and anyone with mobility problems. Why would they cross the river? To access the downtown business core, the seniors centre, pharmacy, medical offices, dental offices, library, municipal service centre, restaurants-to mention but a few important destinations. I think members of our community have also made this point with Council.

Councillor Parsons and I have had extensive conversations with Mr. Kelly and CK engineering staff and the approach we are taking here is supported by them.

70% of the walkway is usable and repairs are needed to only 30%.

In a report to Council on April 18, 2009 $654,000 was approved by council for the repair but it did not get done. The funding we are asking for today is less than what was allocated in 2009.

In a report to Council on June 28, 2013 there were five options that ranged in cost from $360,000 to $1.2 million. We are asking that the $360,000 option be the option put into the infrastructure
budget. In speaking with Mr. Kelly he indicated that he would like $500,000 just to be sure but he also thinks this is the absolute maximum and that the actual cost should be much less. These amounts do not reflect further cost savings from community partnerships which I will mention in a moment. I want to give credit to CK staff for being innovative and creative to get these costs down to the point where they are now.

The “do nothing” option will require ongoing annual costs of $7,000 to $10,000 until the structure is deemed unsafe and, according to the June 28, 2013 report, the cost to then remove the bridge is $540,000. The cost to repair the walkway is less than the cost to do nothing and remove the walkway.

At the public open house suggestions were offered up to offset the cost of this project even further. While there is not, at this point in time, a detailed list of products and services that are required to complete this repair (that will come later during detailed design) the support from Chatham-Kent business has been exceptional. All support and cost savings from local businesses and volunteers will go directly to further reduce the cost as indicated earlier.

Here is a summary:

– The Wallaceburg Chamber of Commerce and the Wallaceburg Business Improvement Association have agreed to team up with Councillor Parsons and I to recruit and lead the volunteer effort to do any tasks that volunteers can do – painting, clean up, landscaping etc. Both organizations have also agreed to work with us in getting support from local businesses to donate and/or supply products and services to lower costs even further.

– Gary Labadie – Owner – Duchene’s Paint & Accent Alley agreed to donate 20 gallons of SICO Corrostop paint PLUS 100 brushes and 24 roller sets. He has been supportive of every project we have ever done in Wallaceburg. Amazing!

– Brad Murphy – Sarnia Branch Manager for Windsor Factory Supply (he lives in Wallaceburg) will, based on the list of products and services, donate items and will also provide other items at his cost. He and his family were very involved in the successful local pool user meetings.

– Rick Zavitz – President – Chatham-Kent Ready Mix / Chatham-Kent Construction Products/ Dresden Ready Mix has committed to “aggressively bid the work in order to supply materials at the least cost to the project.”He is not from Wallaceburg but he is a very successful CK business owner who has stepped up to help.

– Keith Davis – Owner – Ecan Energy Services – Keith has offered to:
a. Provide steel and welding services;
b. Find a local business to work with him to remove the old structure;
c. Look at prefabricating the new span; and,
d. Find a crane operator.

And complete this working with our engineering staff to meet their specifications for safety and design. Mr. Davis is an accomplished, successful and creative local business person who quite simply finds a way to get things done.

– Local business owner, realtor and BIA member Dick Primeau has been instrumental in garnering support and will continue to assist through to completion.

– There are more business partnerships to come. Council will be impressed by the support, partnerships and volunteerism this project will generate. A good story for both Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent.